COBB

Appellate Court weighs councilman's suit

The Georgia Court of Appeals is expected to decide within three months if Marietta Councilman Philip Goldstein can build a five-story building on the Marietta Square. The court has heard an appeal Goldstein filed after losing a law suit against Marietta in Cobb Superior Court in June 2011. The councilman argues the city should honor a 2008 building certificate he holds to build a taller structure on North Park Square. The council lowered building height limits from 85 feet to 54 feet in March 2011.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Cobb families to receive transfer decisions

Cobb County families looking to transfer their children to a different school will receive the district's decision July 6. The district allows for a limited amount of students with Individual Education Plans, or IEPs, to transfer schools this year. Parents will be notified by telephone or e-mail. Information: www.cobbk12.org/generalinfo/transfers/

Daarel burnette ii

Classic Car Cruise in Acworth June 30

The City of Acworth is partnering with Lake City Cruisers to host a Classic Car Cruise from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, June 30, in downtown Acworth. The parade of vintage automobiles with things as antiquated and eye-popping as carburetors, vent windows and vacuum windshield wipers is open to the public, no charge. Want to fire up your clunker and bring it on down? The entry fee is $2. Jeffry Scott

Orchestra serves up free concerts

The Georgia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will play patriotic tunes at three free concerts starting 8 p.m. June 30 at Kennesaw State University on the Campus Green followed by fireworks. A rain date is July 1. Other concerts will be 7 p.m. July 2 at Marietta First United Methodist Church amphitheater off Polk Street, and 7:30 p.m. July 3 and fireworks after at Mount Paran North Church, 1700 Allgood Road, Marietta. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Mableton market closes Saturday

Riverview Landing's The Market will conclude from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in Mableton. Fresh Roots Farm will sell plants and seedlings from Garden*Hood and local organic produce.

Free educational seminars on gardening also will be offered - as well as a dog pasture for pets. Riverview Landing, a mixed-use community, is located along the Chattahoochee River, 6271 River View Road, Mableton.

Information: riverview-landing.com/events.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Orchestra to play at three free concerts

The Georgia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will play patriotic tunes at three free concerts staring 8 pm. Saturday June 30 at Kennesaw State University on the Campus Green with fireworks after the concert. A rain date is July 1. A Celebrate America concert will be 7 p.m. July 2 at the Marietta First United Methodist Church amphitheater off Polk Street. A third concert and fireworks show will be July 3 at Mount Paran North Church in Marietta, 1700 Allgood Road, Marietta. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Leave the fireworks to the professionals

Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services is encouraging residents to attend a professional fireworks show this 4th of July instead of using fireworks at home. The sale and use of most types of fireworks, including firecrackers, skyrockets and cherry bombs, are illegal in Georgia and punishable by a maximum fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail. When using legal fireworks, remember to always use them outdoors, away from home and cars, with water on hand to extinguish under adult supervision. For more visit www.gwinnettcounty.com, fire and emergency services. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Mall of Georgia hosts July 4th celebration

The Mall of Georgia's 10th Annual Fabulous Fourth on Independence Day includes concerts: Vintage Boogie Band; Norwood and The Woody's. Fireworks begin at dusk. A screening of Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows will follow. Information: www.mallofgeorgia.com.

Kenneth Musisi

Racing and fireworks to be held Saturday

The Gwinnett County chapter of the national Beat the HEAT organization will share its anti-street racing message at the Night of Fire event at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce. The celebration features jet-powered race cars, wheel-stander and junior and adult racing. The evening ends with fireworks. Tickets are $20 for 12 and over, $10 for kids 6-12. Children under 5 are free. Gates open at 9 a.m. Info: www.atlantadragway.com

Andria Simmons

Lilburn Idol singing competition continues

Friday is Lilburn's second night of Lilburn Idol, the city's version of the hit television singing competition American Idol. The 7 p.m. event at City Park's pavilion behind the downtown municipal complex at 76 main street is the last one before the July 20 finals there. Singing is judged by a panel of local voice coaches, choir directors and others knowledgeable about singing, as well as audience members. Information: 770-921-2210 or visit cityoflilburn.com. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Peachtree Corners road race kicks off festival

Peachtree Corners kicks off the 2nd Annual Peachtree Corners Festival at 7:00 a.m. Saturday, June 30 with the Peachtree Corners Firecracker 10,000, 5K and 10K run and fitness walk. The family-friendly festival featuring food, a juried arts and craft show, car show and live music runs 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, June 30 and noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 1 and marks the first day Peachtree Corners becomes the newest and largest city in Gwinnett. Info: www.peachtreecornersfestival.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Humane Society visits Gwinnettt shelter

The Humane Society of the United States is hosting a free workshop in Lawrenceville on Thursday. Humane Society representatives will educate staff at the Gwinnett Animal Shelter, 884 Winder Hwy., on animal health and welfare. The visit is part of a national tour to increase adoptions and improve shelters. The workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Christopher Hong

NORTHSIDE

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper wins $50,000 EPA grant

The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper has won a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to expand its Neighborhood Water Watch program which teaches local residents, watershed groups, schools and government agencies to conduct their own stream monitoring and compile water-quality data in urban neighborhoods. Residents are also trained to identify and report pollution sources. Chattahoochee Riverkeeper will expand its program from 16 sites to 25. The group was one of 46 nationally to get part of $2.7 million awarded Tuesday. Kristina Torres

Verizon Wireless Donation Honors the Y's Guys

Verizon Wireless, through its HopeLine Program, celebrated dads in Georgia by making a $2500 donation to the YWCA of Northwest Georgia's Y's Guys Committee in Marietta. The donation was in appreciation for work the staff and committee members have done by raising awareness to men about how domestic violence impacts women. Information: Holly Comer at 770-423-3581 or HComer@ywcanwga.com and www.ywcanwga.com. Kenneth Musisi

Dikembe Mutombo to speak in Alpharetta

Former Atlanta Hawks basketball player Dikembe Mutombo will be the keynote speaker at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce's Eggs & Enterprise breakfast at Alpharetta's Metropolitan Club on June 28 at 7:30 a.m. The retired NBA player of 17 years is renowned for his 15-year-old Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, which works to eradicate childhood disease in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo. For information, contact Debbie Ryals, 678-397-0556. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Rent school facility at online site

Looking to use a school facility for an event this summer? Doing so just became a little easier. Fulton County recently announced the creation of a Facilities Rental webpage, which will allow organizations and individuals to go online and rent their desired school facility. Visit www.fultonschools.org, click Quick Links, and then click Facilities Rental. Fulton County hopes that the new webpage will make facility rental more convenient for everyone by streamlining the process. Edward Mitchell

River Eves PTA hosts ice cream social

The PTA at River Eves Elementary School in Roswell will host an informative and fun ice cream social for new students and rising kindergarten students from 3 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 8. The event gives students and their families a chance to meet other students, school administrators, teachers and PTA leaders. River Eves merchandise will be available. Nancy Badertscher

Registration deadline July 2 for election

Voters have until July 2 to register for the July 31 primary and special election. Forsyth County residents can register to vote or change their name/address on the voter registration list at the Forsyth County Voter Registrations and Elections Office, 110 E. Main St., Cumming from 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Applications are due no later than 4:30 p.m. July 2. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Film festival ends with "Africa Unite"

"Africa Unite," the final film in the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library's fifth annual Caribbean Film Festival, will show on Wednesday. The Jamaican documentary follow's the late Bob Marley's family celebrating what would have been his 60th birthday by traveling to Ethiopia for a series of concerts and a gathering of youth from throughout the continent.

A reception starts at 5 p.m. and the movie shows at 6 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. Edward Mitchell

Health department offers free HIV tests

As part of of National HIV Testing Day, the Fulton County Health and Wellness Department will offer free testing and counseling WednesdayJune 27 at The Mall West End, 850 Oak St., S.W., Atlanta. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded Fulton County a $4.5 million grant for HIV prevention in Fulton and DeKalb counties. Funding will increase in phases during the next five years. Information: 404-613-1458. Johnny Edwards

Redskins player to host football clinic

Washington Redskins cornerback Leigh Torrence will host a USA Football FUNdamentals clinic for children ages 7-14 at 9 a.m. June 30 at Anderson Park, 120 Anderson Avenue, Atlanta. The free, one-day clinic is designed to introduce children to football by teaching basic skills in a fun and energetic environment. The camp is supported by a grant from the NFL Youth Football Fund. Registration is available on-site prior to the event. Kenneth Musisi

Fraternity to host breast cancer forum

The Atlanta Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. is hosting their first "Breast Cancer Awareness Forum" from 1 to 3 p.m. June 30 at Morehouse School of Medicine, National Center for Primary Care Auditorium, 720 Westview Drive S.W., Atlanta. Men and women are invited to the free educational forum. Information:Dr. Harold E. Moore, Jr. at 404-778-8669.

Kenneth Musisi

DEKALB

DeKalb bans fund-raising at intersections

The DeKalb County Commission recently adopted a resolution that calls for outlawing to children from raising money for various groups at intersections. The resolution is designed to protect children and give county police the ability to make them move from intersections when trying to fund-raise for sports leagues or social groups. The resolution also calls for adults and commercial vendors to pay $25 for a weekly permit that allows them to solicit money at intersections. However, there is no accompanying code that allows for that permit. April Hunt

DeKalb bans fund-raising at intersections

The DeKalb County Commission recently adopted a resolution that calls for outlawing to children from raising money for various groups at intersections. The resolution is designed to protect children and give county police the ability to make them move from intersections when trying to fund-raise for sports leagues or social groups. The resolution also calls for adults and commercial vendors to pay $25 for a weekly permit that allows them to solicit money at intersections. However, there is no accompanying code that allows for that permit. April Hunt

DeKalb programs win national awards

The National Association of Counties has honored DeKalb County for its recent landfill conversion project and a toilet retrofit program. The programs won the group's 2012 Achievement Awards for efforts to better serve residents. The landfill project is the first in the nation to convert methane from the dump into compressed natural gas and renewable natural gas, for vehicles and pipeline injection, respectively. The toilet retrofit offered rebates to those in individually metered homes to replace up to three aging toilets with low-flow models to save water. April Hunt

PAWS Atlanta offering senior discounts

PAWS Atlanta, a DeKalb County animal welfare group, has launched a new program that seeks to match senior pets with older owners.The group, formerly known as the DeKalb Humane Society, is discounting adoption fees to $60 for anyone over 60 years old who adopts a pet that is 6 years old or older.

Information and to view available animals: www.pawsatlanta.org. April Hunt

DeKalb hosting water quality workshop

DeKalb County's Adopt-A-Stream program will host a training workshop July 7 at the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve.The free session will train volunteers to collect water samples from county streams and interpret the data.The event, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be at the park's Nature Center, 3787 Klondike Road, near Lithonia.

Registration/information: Michael O'Shield at 770-724-1456 or msoshield@dekalbcountyga.gov. April Hunt

Advocacy group to host seminar

Concerned Citizens for Better Justice will sponsor "Blessings out of Brokenness", a free seminar and presentation at the DeKalb Stone Mountain Library-Sue Kellogg Branch at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Information: 404-296-5509.

Kenneth Musisi

SOUTHSIDE

Second south Fulton input session scheduled Thursday

A second public input session on south Fulton's transportation needs will be held ThursdayJune 28 at Burdett Park. It's one of four the county his holding before the July 31 transportation sales tax referendum. If it passes, the tax is expected to raise $6.14 billion over 10 years for a list of projects already drawn up, as well as another $1 billion for local governments. Unincorporated south Fulton is expected to get about $2.9 million per year, and the county wants feedback on a project list. Thursday's meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 2945 Burdett Road, College Park. Johnny Edwards

Peachtree City maps available for mobiles

Detailed maps of Peachtree City, including streets and multiuse paths, are now available for iPhone and Android devices. Users must download a free app from ArcGIS Mobile; links and tutorials are available at maps.peachtreecity.org

The app offers aerial, road map and other backgrounds, includes measuring tools and social media connections and is searchable by address. Information: whitley@peachtreecity.org or 770-631-3344. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Clayton to host candidates forum

The Coalition of Clayton County Clergy will host an "All Candidates" Political Forum for elected officials or candidates seeking to hold office in Clayton County for the July 31 primary election. The free two-day forum will be at 5 to 8:30 p.m. June 28 in the James M. Baker University Center (Room U272) and June 29 in the Lecture Hall (Room B14) at Clayton State University. Information: 404-207-3817. Kenneth Musisi

Jeffares bows out of commission race

Laura Jeffares, a Republican candidate for the District 3 seat on the Henry County Board of Commissioners, confirmed Monday that she has withdrawn from the race. That leaves two candidates in the July 31 Republican primary - Gary Barham and Bill Toney - hoping to succeed current commissioner Randy Stamey, in his second term and not running for re-election. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Session offers info on Fulton health services

For those wanting to know what services they can get from Fulton County's Health Department, the East Point Naturally Occurring Retirement Community will hold an information session 11 a.m. today in the chapel of Peachtree City Christian Church, 1706 Washington Rd., East Point. The session will offer information about resources for adults and children, and seniors can get free blood pressure screenings. Information: 404-762-2094. Johnny Edwards

Keyaron Fox Foundation Hosts Athletic Camps

The Keyaron Fox Foundation will host the fourth annual "Will of Steel Weekend" event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 30 at Welcome All Park, 4255 Will Lee Road, College Park. The free athletic camps are for adults and children ages 8-14. Registration is ongoing at: Welcome All Park, Burdett Park, and Cliftondale Park in College Park; and Sandtown Park in Atlanta. Keyaron Fox plays football with the Washington Redskins. Information: www.keyaronfoxfoundation.org or 404-612-8300. Kenneth Musisi